“ALEX  SAHLBERG was voted to be the next generation’s greatest storm chaser.” – Minnesota Storm Chasers   I was born August 22, 1986 and lived on beautiful Park Point island, Duluth, Minnesota and I am 18 – I Alex Sahlberg passed over to the other side Wednesday April 13, 2005 at 4:32pm, at home after school in the shower they say of natural causes.  I was not sick and I did not have pneumonia.  I fainted, became unconscious, and aspirated, I could not breathe.  Life is precious but Paramedics and MD’s did not try to save me, and that is not acceptable.  Did God need me or did man forsake me?  Alex attended Harbor City International School and did graduate with full diploma on June 11, 2005.    He was the first student to enroll and the first student to ever graduate in the history of the school.  He was a skywarn spotter for the National Weather Service and was voted the head of the Minnesota Weather Group.  Alex was part of a new venture called the New Discovery Weather Website.  He was an official Minnesota Storm Chaser from an early age and was doing an internship with KBJR News 6 (usually reserved for college students) and was their Park Point weather watcher for seven years.  He was the creator and producer of Real Weather Extreme Northland (an eight year video project which was just released).     Alex was at peace with himself, he was his authentic self.  He used this gift to make the word a better place for all.  The unconditional love that he gave his parents, brothers, family and friends, all the animals, and the earth was overwhelming.  He loved being alive and the beach the most.  He was busy every minute and enjoyed it.  He had great plans for his life.  He was a great and gifted student, movie producer and a documentarian.  His passion for weather and nature and his joy and excitement of living was always present.  He was a quiet and private person with an amazing sense of humor.  He believed in Jesus and he prayed for the animals, the poor and the earth.  Alex was a teacher and counselor to many.  Alex loved basketball, baseball, biking, bowling, hiking, swimming, kayaking, surfing and fires on the beach. Alex is survived by parents, John and Kathy; brothers, Jim Chadwick and Ben (Heidi), and Peter; uncle Jim Duffy; many pets especially Bobby, Ruby, Earl, Apache’ and Rascal the crow; Eggie his beloved kitten is buried with him Oneota Cemetery, 6403 Highland Street in Duluth.    With my spirit and my soul, I thank everyone for the prayers, cards, emails, memorial trees and my stone cloud.  I would like to thank all of my teachers and friends at Harbor City and Lakeview Christian Academy, especially Pastor Charles; my friends and mentors, Sven my boss and Dave at KBJR News 6, and PACT TV for airing my movies and giving me a start.  Charter Media for putting me on the weather Channel.  Independent Film Producers (IFP) of Minnesota for featuring my movies at the Play Ground Cinema – September 2, 2005 and Mayor Bergson of Duluth for speaking for me, Dave Anderson for making it all possible and keeping my Legend Alive.  Someday I’ll be in the Christmas City of the North Parade.  Grandma's Gift Shop, Vista Fleet Gift Shop, Northern Lights Books, Electric Fetus and Barnes & Noble for believing in me.  And all the Minnesota Storm Chasers eh?  Angela for caring and speaking for me at my graduation and Lexi, Rachael and Aaron for caring so much.  Lucy my cat for giving us six kittens June 29, 2005 – Monk, Timmy, F-6, the Twister Sisters and Angela.    I filmed Howard Dean, met Jesse Jackson, John Kerry, Will Steger and was to meet Paul Wellstone on the day he died.  I was the cameraman and the weather person at Harbor City, and the new weather station is named after me, thanks Baci!  After all I am a photo journalist with an emphasis on Severe Weather eh? Alex's movie Lake Superior’s Winter’s Fury was released late 2005.   I am now Vortex Alex the legendary storm chasing spirit of the Northland.   “At some point in his life he would have reached the upper echelon of storm chasers,” said Bill Doms, a storm chaser from Buffalo, Minnesota.  “This kid had the desire and the thirst for knowledge.  We couldn’t teach him fast enough.”   www.chase-tv.com www.realwx.tripod.com www.mnstormchasers.org/alex   2005 – The year of Monster Storms Alex says, Global Warming Eh? Barack Obama for President!